Paris herself again in 1878-9 . the Transatlantic Republic humbly abnegate that self-assertivenesswhich is one of their most prominent characteristics. It is from ten to twelve in the morning—that is to say, betweenthe hours of high mass and breakfast—and between three and five 330 PARIS HERSELF AGAIN. in the afternoon, between breakfast and the drive in the Bois, thatthe crowd of carriage-people in the Hue delaPaixis at its great-est. Then may you see the Duchesses and the Marchionesses, theAmbassadresses and the American millionnairesses —the lastnot nearly so numerous as of yore—descending
Paris herself again in 1878-9 . the Transatlantic Republic humbly abnegate that self-assertivenesswhich is one of their most prominent characteristics. It is from ten to twelve in the morning—that is to say, betweenthe hours of high mass and breakfast—and between three and five 330 PARIS HERSELF AGAIN. in the afternoon, between breakfast and the drive in the Bois, thatthe crowd of carriage-people in the Hue delaPaixis at its great-est. Then may you see the Duchesses and the Marchionesses, theAmbassadresses and the American millionnairesses —the lastnot nearly so numerous as of yore—descending from their sparklingequipages at the portals of the mansions where Theodoric,* Clorinde, and the rest ply their mysteries; and there may you. institute, if you please, any number of comparisons between theBritish flunkey—calm, superb, impassible of mien, stately of figure,symmetrical of calf, undeniably stately, but slightly supercilious—and the French valet de pied; & stalwart fellow enough of hisinches, but clean-shaven, sallow, somewhat cadaverous of coun-tenance, apt to look too rigid, as though he were half-strangled inhis high, stiff, white collar, and altogether wearing a half-militaryhalf-clerical expression. IN THE KUE DE LA PAIX. 331 But, after five oclock, the gay equipages, with their the valets de pied, disappear. The demoiselles de magasin, Itake it, are dismissed about nine, and hurry away to their belovedboulevards; and, altogether, the Rue de la Paix would be all butdeserted but for the English, whose appearance after the dinner-hour—say from eight to close upon ten —can in general beconfidently reckoned upon. They have, to most intents and pur-poses, the Rue de la Paix to themse
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